Game apparatus



1932- s. L. vAccARo, JR 1,870,536

GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 22, 1931 3 SheetsSheet 1 gwuentoc S'L-Vizeearo, Jr.

Aug. 9, 1932.

S. L. VACCARO, JR

GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 22, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 )5. L.1 bu*caro,Jr.

Aug. 9, 1932 s. 1.. VACCARO, JR

GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 22, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 9, 1932 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAME APPARATUS Application filed January 22, 1931. Serial No. 510,553.

This invention relates to indoor games and particularly to a game of the character of obstacle golf.

The general object is to provide a game of this character which requires skill to play, which provides an element of chance and which is capable of being played by any number of persons and has many points of interest.

A further object is to provide agame apparatus which consists of a central member, a plurality of radially disposed hinged elements forming runways when they are laid in an approximately horizontal position, 0 these elements being hinged to the central element so that they may be either disposed in the aforesaid horizontal position and radially to the central element or may be turned up at right angles to the plane of the central element so as to act as legs supporting the central element.

A further object is to provide a game apparatus of this character so constructed that when the legs are turned into a position at right angles to the plane of the central element, the apparatus may be used as a stand or tabouret.

Another object in this connection is to provide upon one face of the central element a pointer rotatable freely around the center and moving over numbered and colored spaces so that the game of roulette may be played upon this stand, the central element being so disposed that when it is disposed in a position for playing indoor golf, the pointer will be prevented from contact with the floor.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective View of my game apparatus in its playing position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus in inverted position with the legs partly drawn in;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view with the legs spread open as in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the 0 game apparatus with the legs closed to form a stand;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the central member of the game apparatus when in the position shown in Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a central element which is shown as octagonal in shape, this central element having hinged to it a plurality of members 11 which, when they are down in an approximately horizontal position, constitute runways for the ball in playing obstacle golf and which, when they are turned at right angles to the central element, constitute legs. The hinges 12 as shown in Figure 4 are disposed adjacent the inner face of the central element so that when the runways 11 are turned downward 66 against the floor as shown in Figure 1, these runways will be upwardly and centrally inclined. Six of these runways 11 are shown, though obviously more might be applied, if I desired. 7s

The outer ends of each of the runways is beveled as at 13. The central element is formed at its center with a pocket or recess 14 and surrounding this recess with a plurality of pockets 15, one for the runways and disposed opposite thereto. These pockets must be sufficiently deep so that a ball, such as a golf ball, will lodge therein and yet sufficiently shallow so that the ball will not necessarily stay in the pocket, but may under certain circumstances roll out therefrom.

The runways are all different. The runway which I have designated A is formed with laterally disposed walls or ribs 16, whose outer ends are downwardly and out- 8 wardly inclined. It is also formed with a central aperture 17 constituting a trap for a ball movingalong this runway. The runway B is formed with a series of upwardly inclined shoulders 18, each shoulder termi- 9f nat-ing in a vertical shoulder. There are two pairs of these shoulders 18, the pairs confronting each other leaving a transversely extending recess 19 between the pairs of shoulders. The runway C has two parallel rails 20, the upper surfaces of which are inclined upward and away from the face of the runway. The runway D carries upon it the transversely U-shaped tunnel-like member or elongated wicket 21. The runway E, as

way is an upwardly and outwardly inclinedmember 26 which extends beneath the aperture and is slightly grooved. Thus it is necessary in playing the ball through the.

various runways, that with runway A the ball shall pass between the hole'17 and one of the outer rails 16 in order to roll on to the central element 10; that in playing the run way B, the ball must traverse the irregular bunkers or shoulders 18' before it can reach the central element; that in playing the runway C, the ball should be so driven that it will either pass up on one of the other of the rails20 or pass between said rails; in playing the runway D, that the ball shall pass through the tunnel 21; in playing the runway E, that the ball shall not strike the shoulders formed at the ends of the rails 23, but shall pass between these rails, and that in playing the runway F the ball shall pass through the aperture 25 and land properly upon the portion 26. Between the runways A and F, the central table or element '10 carries the wall 27 and a like wall 28 is disposed on the opposite side of the table or central element. Of course, if there are eight runways, the two remaining runways will be disposed where these walls are. These walls, however, act as deflecting walls against which a ball may strike and be deflected at an angle around the central element.

. Each of the several runways, which as I have remarked before constitute legs, is preferably formed with a slight longitudinal slot 28 at its outer end. This is to permit these runways to be engaged by a reta ning element designated 29 and consisting of a central ring with radial chains extending therefrom, each of these chains being provided at its extremity with a button 30.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the ends of these several chains may be inserted in their respective slots, thus holding the chains in a position at right angles to the plane of the central element so that the device may be inverted and constitute, as illustrated in Figure 2, a tabouret or stand. Under these circumstances, the outer faces of the legs or runways have all the appearance of the legs of a tabouret and the continuous obstacles formed. upon the inner faces of these runways are entirely concealed. Preferably, the central elementon the exterior face thereof will be provided with the two handles 31 whereby the tabouret may be readily handled.

That face of the central element which is the pointer after spinning may accidently come to restin front of any number or in front of any colored space. Thus this spinner may be used in playing roulette. It will be noted that the recess 32 is suiiiciently deep so that the pointer 35 is entirely protected from contact with the floor when the device is inverted. The. annular space between the recess 32 and the peripher of the central ele ment is also preferably ivided by radiating lines into spaces upon which players may place playing pieces to indicate their wagers.

f the game is not in use or being played, it can be folded to form a'small table as described; it can be used as a pedestal, an occasional table, a smoking stand or the like or be used for the playing the game of roulette or any like game.

When it is desired to use the table as an obstacle golf apparatus, the chains are removed from. the extremities of the legs and the le turned down with the table inverted. All 0 the legs constitute runways which are upwardly inclined with reference to the plane of the upper surface of the central element. The game may be played by any number of persons. An ordinary golf putter and golf ball are used. Six hazards constituted by the several runways are played in a predetermined order. The ball is preferably placed 2 from'the hazard and each player has three trials in which to get the ball over the hazard and then into the hole in the bowl or central element in which there are seven holes. If the player is successful in getting the ball into the central element and providing the ball does not go into one ofthe outer holes 15, the player is entitled to a score of five points. Should the player get the ball over the hazard and then into one of the holes 15, he is entitled to a score corresponding to the number of points marked for that particular hole. Certain of the holes 15, it will be seen from Figure 3, are marked 10 and others 25. The central hole may be marked 15 or may be given any other number, as for instance 25. The players failing to get the ball in the bowl in three trials score nothing. The players all complete the playing of one hazard before moving to the next hazard. Although this game, of course, has no such scoring as in regular golf, it has the advantage of playing iv the hazards as in regular miniature golf and in addition there is the added attraction and excitement of chance when the player or players succeed in getting the ball into the.

owl and probably in one of the holes.

I claim A game apparatus of the character described comprising a central element, a plurality of run-way elements, hinges connecting the outside faces of the run-way elements to the central element and normally supporting the runway elements with their upper faces in spaced relation to the upper face of the central element whereby said runway elements may be turned into a position approximately parallel to each other and at right angles to the central element, and means for holding the runway elements in the last named position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

STEVEN L. VACCABO, JR. 

